India Achieves 21% Decline in Tuberculosis Cases, Outpacing Global Average: WHO Report 2025

India's Rifampicin drug-susceptibility testing coverage has reached 92%, significantly exceeding the global average of 83%.

India has achieved a remarkable breakthrough in its battle against tuberculosis (TB), demonstrating a 21% reduction in TB incidence, from 237 cases per 100,000 population in 2015 to 187 per 100,000 in 2024, according to the World Health Organization's Global TB Report 2025. This decline is nearly twice the global reduction rate of 12%.

This substantial improvement represents one of the most significant decreases worldwide, showcasing India's consistent investment in technology-enhanced detection methods, expanded treatment accessibility, and robust community involvement.

India's advancements have exceeded global standards across numerous vital metrics. Treatment coverage dramatically increased to 92% in 2024, compared to 53% in 2015, surpassing both other high-burden nations and worldwide averages.

The treatment success rate under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan reached an impressive 90%, outperforming the global rate of 88%. TB mortality decreased from 28 deaths per 100,000 population in 2015 to 21 per 100,000 in 2024, indicating faster progress than the global average reduction among HIV-negative individuals.

India diagnosed 26.18 lakh TB patients in 2024, out of an estimated total of 27 lakh cases. The number of undiagnosed or unreported "missing" TB cases has dramatically declined from approximately 15 lakhs in 2015 to less than one lakh in 2024. Additionally, there has been no significant increase in multi-drug-resistant (MDR) TB cases.

The TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, launched in December 2024, has enhanced early detection and community outreach efforts. Over 19 crore vulnerable individuals have undergone screening, resulting in the diagnosis of 24.5 lakh TB patients, including 8.61 lakh asymptomatic cases.

India's Rifampicin drug-susceptibility testing coverage has reached 92%, significantly exceeding the global average of 83%. The country now operates the world's largest TB laboratory network, comprising 9,391 rapid molecular testing facilities and 107 culture and drug-susceptibility laboratories.

More than 500 AI-enabled handheld X-ray units have been deployed throughout the country, with an additional 1,500 being distributed to states and union territories. TB care has been decentralized through 1.78 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, facilitating early diagnosis and treatment closer to communities.

Government funding for the TB program has increased nearly tenfold over the past nine years, enabling the implementation of new diagnostic tools, treatment regimens, and social support interventions.

Under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, the monthly nutritional support for TB patients has doubled from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month. Since 2018, the scheme has distributed Rs 4,406 crore to 1.37 crore beneficiaries through direct benefit transfers.

Public participation has also grown significantly, with 6.7 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras (individuals and organizations) providing over 45 lakh food baskets to TB patients. More than 2 lakh My Bharat volunteers are engaged in outreach and patient support activities, helping strengthen community awareness and treatment adherence.

The Health Ministry has implemented a differentiated TB care approach, identifying high-risk patients, including those with co-morbidities, for customized treatment plans. ASHA workers have received training to recognize early warning signs and promptly refer patients to advanced care facilities.

The government indicates that the next phase of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan will concentrate on proactive screening of all vulnerable and high-risk populations, AI-assisted diagnostics, and comprehensive patient support, combining medical, nutritional, and psychosocial care.

These initiatives, supported by unprecedented funding and nationwide participation, aim to maintain India's rapid decline in TB incidence and mortality, bringing the country closer to achieving the goal of a TB-Mukt Bharat.